FirELD CoLuMBIAN MusEuM 
PUBLICATION 28, 


_ ANTHROPOLOGICAL SERIES. Voz. II, No. 3.. 


RUINS OF XKICHMOOK, 
YUCATAN 


BY 


Epwarp H. Tuompson, 
Field Assistant. 


GeorGE A. Dorsey, 
Acting Curator, Department of Anthropology. 


Cuicaco, U. S. A. 
July, 1898. 


Pe ee ee ee eee 


PUBLICATIONS 


OF THE 


Peep COLUMBIAN MUSEUM 


ANTHROPOLOGICAL SE RikS 


VouumME II. 


Guicaco sll? Si As 
1897-1903* 


*For date of issue of each paper see Table of Contents. 


FIELD CoLUMBIAN MuSEUM 
PUBLICATION 28, 


ANTHROPOLOGICAL SERIES. Vox. Tl, Now3. 


PUINS OF XKICHMOOK. 
YUCATAN 


BY 


Epwarp H. THompson, 


Field Assistant. 


GeEoRGE A. Dorsey, 


Acting Curator, Department of Anthropology. 


Cuicaco, U. S. A. 
July, 1898, 


NOTE. 


The following paper on the ruins of Xkichmook was prepared by Mr. E. 
H. Thompson during the summer of 1896, at which time he was engaged in con- 
ducting archzologic investigations in the ruins of Yucatan for the Field Colum- 
bian Museum. Grateful acknowledgment is made of the,valuable services of 
Prof. W. H. Holmes, of the United States National Museum, in reviewing and 
editing the manuscript and in supervising the preparation of the illustrations. 


GEORGE A. DORSEY, 


Acting Curator, Department of Anthropology. 
CHICAGO, July 14, 1898. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction, - - - - - 
The Palace—Edifice No. 1, - = - 
Excavations, - - - - 
Edifice No.2, - - : < : 
Excavations, - - - - 
Eaince No.3, - - - - - 
Excavations, - - - - - 
Edifice No.4, - - - - - 
Excavations, - - - - 
Edifice No.5, - - - - - 
Edifice No. 6, - - - - - 
Edificé No.7, - - - - - 
Edifices No. 8, No.g and No. to, - - 
Excavations in Edifice No. 8, - - 
Excavations in Edifice No. 9, - - 
Excavations in Edifice No. Io, - - 
Mounds No.1 and No.3, - - - 2 
Miscellaneous excavations, - - - 
Chultunes or reservoirs, - - - - 
Incised figures, - - - - 
Mural paintings, - - -" - - 
Pottery, - - - - - : 
Obsidian, - - - - - - 
Stone implements, - - - hace 
A primitive native, - - - . - 


PLATE. 
XII. View of the Palace from the southeast. 
XIII. View of the Palace from the northeast. 
XIV. View of the Palace from the northwest. 
XV. Edifice No. 2, showing masonry. 
XVI. Edifice No. 3, as exposed by excavation, showing stairway and halls. 
XVII. Edifice No. 4, as it appeared after removal of the forest growth. 
XVIII. Portion of Edifice No. 5, as exposed by excavations. 
XIX. Portion of Edifice No. 5, as exposed by excavations. 
XX. Edifice No. 7, after excavation, showing stairway and remnant of facade. 
XXI. Pottery. 
XXII. Pottery. 
XXIII. Chipped flint implements from mound. 
XXIV. Chipped flint implements from mound. 
XXV. Stone implements. 
XXVI. Ground plan of ruins of Xkichmook. 
XXVII._ Five transverse sections, showing elevations of ground plan (Pl. XXVI). 
Fic. PAGE. 
23. Section of Chamber, with front view of stone platform,  - - - 216 
24. Section of end of Chamber, with section of stone platform, = - - 216 
25. Plan of Edifice No. 8, - = - - = : : - 222 
26. Plan of Edifice No. 9, - - - - - : 222 
27. Plan of Edifice No. To, - - - = SP ae , - 222 
28. Chultune No. 16, - - - - - - - : 225 
29. Chultune No. I, = - = - - - - - 225 
30. Chultune No. 2,,. = - = - - : 225 
31. Section of Reservoir, 3 leagues northeast ‘of Xkichmook, - - - 225 
32. Incised figures on wall of Chamber No. 7, Palace, - - - 226 
33. Incised figures on wall of Chamber No. 7, Palace, - . - - 226 
34. Painted figures on ceiling of Chamber No. 11, Palace, - - = 227 
35. Glyphs and figures in black on wall of Chamber No. Io, - - - 227 
36. Glyphs and figures in black on wall of Chamber No. to, - : 227 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


212. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The group of ruins called Xkichmook by the natives was dis- 
covered by me in 1886, and early in February, 1888, a paper was 
read before the American Antiquarian Society recording the dis- 
covery, and briefly describing the journey and such features of the 
monumental remains as had most strongly impressed themselves upon 
my mind afterwards. The observations made during this first visit 
were necessarily imperfect and superficial, and it was not until early 
in 1891 that I was enabled to commence an exhaustive study of these 
interesting ruins. The result of my investigations, extending over a 
period of seven years, have been, by the kind liberality of Mr. Allison 
V. Armour, placed at the disposal of the Field Columbian Museum. 
The specimens obtained are now preserved in that institution, and 
the various plans and drawings, as wellas copies in color of the mural 
paintings, have been submitted with this report. 

The name Xkichmook signifies, in the Maya language, ‘the buried 
éeauty. 1 think, however, it was not the intention of the native name- 
giver to call it thus, but rather X4zchmu/, a word formed from Jchi/ 
(between) and mw/ (hill)—a very suggestive and appropriate name, for 
the place is surrounded by ranges of highhills. Zchmu/ is by the rules 
of the Maya language feminine, and must have the feminine prefix X. 
The same linguistic custom also requires, for the sake of euphony, 
that between the X and the initial vowel the consonant & shall be inter- 
posed, and thus is formed the word Xichmu/. Notwithstanding this 
inference, I shall continue, as heretofore, to call the group Xkichmook. 
This name was probably the bequest of some wandering native, who, 
after the manner of his kind, chose to call it by a tersely descriptive 
term. In like manner Xlabna (old houses) and Xlapac (old walls) are 
rechristenings. Some ancient groups, as Uxmal, Chichen Itza and 
Mayapan, may have had their original names brought down through 
the centuries to the present, but this would be difficult to prove. 

The ruin group of Xkichmook lies six leagues south of Xul (about 
140 miles south of Merida and forty or fifty miles east of Campeche), 
in a narrow valley between a series of rocky hills, and has to be 
approached by precipitous paths over the hill-sides and thence down 

213 


2I4 INTRODUCTION. 


the beds of dry arroyos whose yearly freshets wash away all vegeta- 
tion. Following these washes progress is possible, but at best the 
approach is extremely difficult. 

The valley has a general trend to the southeast. Its level bed of 
lime rock, a recent formation, geologically speaking, is in places 
covered with a deep layer of Kankad (red earth) produced by erosion 
of the surface formations, and in other places is absolutely destitute 
of any soil save the thinnest layer of vegetable loam. Upon the sur- 
face everywhere is a sparse forest- growth of thorny trees and chaparral. 
Animmense terraced incline, partly natural and partly artificial, forms 
the northern approach to the group of ruins. Commencing with a 
series of ruined steps flanked by walled embankments, it extends 
upward at a moderate angle until at a distance of 187 feet from the 
base it reaches the foot of a second great terrace, upon which stands 
Edifice No. 1 and various less conspicuous structures. The accom- 
panying map, Pl. XXVI, shows the ground plans of these buildings 
and indicates the terracing ina sketchy way. Surrounding the central 
group are other ruins, some of which are included in the map, while 
still others lie beyond its borders and are shown in separate figures. 

Excavations were made at many points, walls were uncovered and 
traced, cisterns were cleaned out, graves were examined and many 
objects of art were procured. Pottery and flaked stone implements 
were plentiful, but polished implements and specimens of sculpture 
were exceedingly rare. 


THE PALACE. 


EDIFICE ‘No; 41. 


Edifice No. 1, or the Palace, as the natives term it, is a most 
imposing structure. It is 64 feet high and, raised by terraced 
substructures, it towers 80 feet above the surrounding level, while 
its massive northern walls loom up like the face of some grim fortress; 
and, in truth, who can tell how many fierce frays have in the ancient 
time taken place in the shadow of these walls! This is the principal 
edifice of the group and is a composite structure, forming, with its 
two wings, three sides of an inclosure too irregular to be called a 
hollow square, with the open portion facing the south. The central 
portion (seen from the southeast in Pl. XII, from the northeast in PI. 
XIII, and from the northwest in Pl. XIV), is a massive pile, fully 60 feet 
high, faced with worked stone and terminating in a much smaller 
upper structure of two rooms, probably a shrine or Aw. A wide stair- 
case, its foundation a solid mass of rubble faced with carved stone 
ornaments, occupies fully one-third of the whole southern front, and 
extends upward to the narrow terrace in front of the shrine. 

The chambers of the lower story are ranged on the sides of this 
great stairway. Those upon the west of the stairway are two in 
number, and are measurably well preserved. The principal facade is 
partially destroyed, but the roof is still intact and gave me shelter for 
many days. The central portion is entirely covered with sculptured 
ornament. The facade of the western wing—a five-chambered struc- 
ture—is plain below, but the upper zone is a mass of projecting orna- 
mental work, partly in stone and partly in stucco. The serpent 
motive is a prominent feature in the embellishment, pervading it more 
fully, perhaps, than in any other ruin | have seen save Uxmal and 
Chichen Itza. 

The eastern wing, a structure of five rooms, two of which are 
still preserved, is now detached from the main building by a narrow 
open space that was once probably covered. Its facade is almost 
unadorned. An undulating band of rosette-like ornaments projects 

215 


216 FieLp Co_tumBpiAN MusEuM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL. II. 


from the otherwise plain surface of the entablature, producing an 
artistic though simple effect. Sunken columnar ornaments break the 
monotony of the lower wall at intervals, and a curious cleft or vertical 
channel divides the facade between the two well-preserved chambers. 
This channel resembles the water gutter of modern buildings, but is 
the only thing of the kind that I have yet found. At Uxmal and in 
other ruin groups I discovered that the drainage of the roofs, and of 
some terraces even, was carried off by curiously wrought gargoyle-like 
water-spouts of stone. 

As is the case with most of the larger edifices of these groups of 
ruins, the Palace appears to be the result of successive periods of 
growth. It would seem that the central portion had been completed, 
and that time left its mark upon the wall before the wings were added, 
and the eroded surface was hidden beneath the new material. The 
second story also appears to occupy the site of an older structure 
whose demolished wall helped to form the later structure. The 
newer building seems to be identical in style with the old. Contrary 
to the theories of some writers on these ruins, there appears to have 
been no Renaissance in the building art in Yucatan. The growth 
seems to have been gradual from the simple lair in the rocks, the cave 
dwelling and the wattle and withe hut, to the grandest monuments of 
the peninsula. The true theory is the simpler. As the group of 
buildings grew, the principal structures must needs be larger to satisfy 
the needs of the people; additions were made as called for and with 
as little trouble as possible. The builders did not often remove the 
casing stones of an old wall that was to be built against, but left them 
to strengthen the structure which, as time went on, might require the 
addition of another story. In some instances, where the stone orna- 
mentation of the upper wall space was especially intricate and pro- 
jecting, they did remove the more complicated portions, utilizing 
them elsewhere. All of the chambers are finished in the usual style; 
the roof is vaulted with the Maya arch; the thick walls are faced with 
dressed stone, the joints being imperfectly broken and often concealed 
beneath one or more thin layers of extremely hard white stucco. The 
floor is built up with layers of rubble and finished with a smoothly 
burnished surface of concrete, once white but now turned to tawny 
yellow hue by long use. 

Five of the Palace chambers have platforms at one or both ends 
of the rooms, raised about 18 inches above the floor and about 2 feet 
wide. (See Figs. 23 and 24.) Their shape and size would indicate 
that they had served for seats, beds or tables. 

I have found similar features in nearly every group of ruins in 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. 


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TOUR cree 


FIKEh. 23h 
RIGS: 24% 


ANTHROPOLOGY. 


SECTION OF CHAMBER, WITH FRONT VIEW OF STONE PLATFORM. 
SECTION OF END OF CHAMBER, WITH SECTION OF STONE PLATFORM. 


Juty, 1898. Ruins oF XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 2L7 


; 
Yucatan. About ten per cent. of the existing chambers, so far as my 
observation extends, have or once had these seats. In some the 
vertical sides are finished in dressed stone. This is the case in sev- 
eral of the chambers at Uxmal. At Labna and also at Chichen Itza 
I have found them covering a larger section of the floor. One, at 
Labna, covered nearly half the floor of alarge chamber. Most of them 
are masses of solid material, but one that I found at Uxmal was 
hollow, and in the cavity was a rough and worn stone figure or 
idol. The structure was in a very dilapidated condition, and the 
stone image may have been placed within at a later period to hide it 
from observation. 

Upon the northeast corner of the great terrace is a mound 16 
feet high (mound 3 on the general plan) which was probably terraced. 
The crowning edifice, if there ever was one, must have been of a perish- 
able nature, possibly constructed of wood and palm leaves. Upon the 
terrace between the Palace and this mound are two raised circular 
spaces 12 feet in diameter, about a foot high, enclosed by cut stones 
and filled in with rubble. Fronting the principal stairways in most of 
the structures in this group are placed similar circles, the dimensions 
varying considerably. Most of them have in the center a cylindrical 
stone; some of these appear to have been stelle or phalli, and others 
mere pedestals. In most cases they appear to have been imbedded 
in lime, cement or rubble. 

Occupying the same great terrace, go feet east of the east wing 
of the Palace, lies the much ruined Edifice No. 7, described further on. 
Upon the southeast portion of this terrace are meandering wall out- 
lines, the remains of chambers now destroyed or possibly, in some cases, 
of walls that were never finished. On the extreme southwest corner 
is one of those diminutive edifices, the counterparts of which, found 
in ruins on the east coast (El Meco and others), have given rise to the 
idea that they were constructed bya race of pigmies. There appears, 
however, to be no good foundation for this theory. The diminutive 
structures were doubtless built for some purpose quite commonplace 
among the people of that time, but which has not survived the changes 
brought about by the Spanish occupation. 


Excavations.— Under the great mass of debris aad fallen stone 
work that covered the floor of the upper chamber or sanctuary, marked 
g in the plan of the Palace, were found various fragments of incense 
burners and human figures in hard burned clay. In the floor material 
of the ruined Chamber No. 17 of the eastern wing, 6 feet beneath 
the floor surface and almost flush with the foundations of the southern 


218 FigeLp CoLuMBIAN MusEuM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL. II. 


wall, was found a well-built cavity of dressed stone. It was appar- 
ently an empty grave, but no sign existed of its having been used as 
a burial place. Excavations made in the accumulated debris and 
into the floor structure of the diminutive chambers, marked a on the 
plan, yielded various fragments of terra cotta objects. 


EDIFICE No. 2. 


Southeast of the Palace group is the raised terrace that supports 
Edifice No. 2. This terrace is composed principally of earth held in 
position by walls of rough-hewn stone. The northeast end holds a 
mass of stone material of unknown use. I am inclined to believe it 
to be the foundation of some unfinished building. The edifice itself 
is a small unpretentious structure of two chambers raised upon a 
terrace about 4 feet high. 


ExCAVATIONS.—Superficial excavation revealed the outlines of the 
edifice as shown upon the map, and the character of the masonry is well 
brought outin Pl. XV. Excavations beneath the floor surface of Cham- 
ber No. 1, at a depth of 1 foot and 8 inches, brought to light a rude sep- 
ulchre which was hardly more than a simple cavity in the stone filling. 
This cavity contained the much decayed fragments of a human skel- 
eton. They had, apparently, been gathered up from some previous 
resting place and thrown into this cavity ina promiscuous heap. No 
signs of an earthen vessel or even of an ornament were found in the - 
grave. Continuing the excavation into the material of the substruc- 
ture, we found at a depth of 2 feet the remains of a second floor of an 
older structure. Apparently, this latter had been built partly above 
and upon the site of a still older edifice. This I have often found to 
be the case among these ruins. In the debris material I found many 
fragments of objects in terra cotta. Similar excavations in the floor - 
material of Chamber No. 2 revealed, at a distance of 3 feet from the 
northern wall, a well-made grave 3 feet long by 1 foot 4 inches wide 
and 2 feet deep, which contained many human bones and teeth, all 
much decayed. In the material just above the grave I found many 
terra cotta fragments of vessels and figures. These votive offerings 
were evidently broken and thrown upon the half-covered grave. As 
in the excavations of Chamber No. 1, we found here signs of a previous 
floor. Continuing to the depth of 3 feet more we came to the bed- 
rock and consequently to the limit of our excavation at that point. 
All the way from the surface down we found potsherds in great variety. 


Jury, 1898. Ruins or XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 219 


EDIFICE No. 3. 


Southeast of Edifice No. 2 is Edifice No. 3, a low structure of five 
rooms. It occupies a terrace 6 feet high, and is approached both on 
the north and south by flights of stairs extending the entire length of 

the structure. This building, with its series of steps faced with 
upright stones as they appeared after excavation was complete, is 
well shown in Pl. XVI. 


Excavations. —Having by exterior excavation exposed to view the 
terrace and walls yet standing, we commenced on Chamber No. 1. 
In clearing out the fallen material that filled the chamber nothing of 
interest was found except a curious black stone head. Chamber No. 2 
yielded nothing of exceptional interest. A few interesting potsherds 
were found. 

Chamber No. 3 had in the floor material bones and teeth, but if 
they were placed in a grave it was so like the ordinary cavities in the 
large stones forming the foundation of the floor that we did not recog- 
nize it. These excavations in the foundation material were always 
continued until undisturbed material was encountered. 

Chamber No. 4 contained in the debris upon the floor three 
kas (stones for grinding). These stones were of the usual form 
and shape of those used by the ancients; they are cylindrical in 
shape, and from 6 to 8 inches long, and about 2 inches in diameter. 
(See Pl. XXV.) They are quite different from those in use at the 
present day. It may be stated here that many of the hollowed 
stone troughs (haltunes), supposed to have been water receptacles, 
may well have been some kind of mortar or matatl. I have found 
that the cavities hollowed out in the haltunes generally correspond 
to the cavities that would be produced by the abrasion of one 
of these small stone rollers. It is also very noticeable that these 
utensils generally have their sides much worn and polished, as if by 
constant rubbing. These were probably used for other purposes 
besides the grinding of corn. Much pigment, principally oxide 
of iron, to produce which much grinding and trituration must have 
been necessary, was used about the great structures. 

In the interior of Yucatan there still exists a small Indian 
pueblo, where the natives of the region go to purchase red earth 
for coloring and decorating pottery. As soon as circumstances per- 
mit I shall visit and study this region, and report more fully upon 
the subject. 


220 FIELD CoLuMBIAN MusEUM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VoL. II. 


In the floor material, referred to above, at a depth of 2 feet, 
we found a grave and a curiously formed earthen jar. The grave 
was so placed that it rested upon the foundations of the eastern 
wall. It was 3 feet long by 1 foot wide, and 1% feet deep. It was 
well built of unhewn stone, and held, besides fragments of much 
decayed human bones and teeth, a shallow earthen vessel, several 
beads of green stone, a flint implement, and many potsherds. 

Investigations in the floor material of Chamber No. 5 brought to 
light a well-preserved burial place, at a depth of 2 feet 5 inches 
from the ancient floor surface. This grave was of unusual length, 
and shaped like a coffin, being 5 feet 3 inches long, 1 foot 6 inches 
wide at the head, and narrowing down to to inches at the foot. 
Mere traces of a skeleton were found, the bones being reduced to 
dust. Just above the place where the shoulder of the body would 
have been was a wide-mouthed earthen vessel, the mouth of which 
was covered by a circular shallow vessel of hard burned clay, placed 
over it in an inverted position. These vessels and their contents, 
apparently ashes, were preserved with special care. 


EDIFICE No. :4. 


' 


Edifice No. 4 is on the east side of the structure above de- 
scribed, and is separated from it by a narrow space only 5 feet 
wide. The chambers of this structure, nine in number, one being 
still intact, surround a solid, rectangular core of stone and rubble. 
This ruin, as it appeared when the forest trees and undergrowth 
were removed, is seen in Pl. XVII. 


ExcavaTions.—This edifice was thoroughly investigated down to 
the very bed-rock of the foundation. Many broken vessels and pot- 
sherds were found, some of very interesting character, but perhaps 
not worthy of special mention. 

Chambers Nos. 1 and 2 yielded no facts or specimens worthy of 
note. In Chamber No. 3, at a distance of 2 feet 11 inches beneath the 
floor surface, and 2 feet from the northern wall, a sealed jar was found 
imbedded in indurated red earth mortar. The jar was nearly filled 
with earthy matter, and was covered with a disk of hard, burned 
clay, once neatly cemented into place with clay, but wrenched away 
by myriads of rootlets. In the same room, and at'the same depth, 
5 feet from the doorway, near the base of the northern wall, was 
a curious circular opening, 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet in depth, 
filled with human bones in a fragmentary state. Among them were 


JuLy, 1898. Ruins or XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 221 


several teeth filed in curious shapes; the others were in the natural 
state. Near these bones was found a jade bead; directly above 
them were nine sea shells, and some green stone pendants, covered 
by a shallow, circular vessel of hard, burned clay, cracked but other- 
wise perfect. Close by this deposit was dug up a wide-mouthed 
vessel of hard, burned clay in perfect condition. It was found in 
an upright position, the mouth unprotected, and filled to the brim 
with earth. In Chamber No. 4, at a distance of 4 feet from the 
door, in the northern wall, and at a depth of 2 feet, we found 
a similar circular deposit of bones. Investigation yielded nothing 
more of special note. In Chamber No. 5, at a depth of 15 inches 
beneath the floor, we encountered the remains of a previous floor. 
Continuing the excavations, at a depth of 2 feet beneath the second 
floor, we found a large earthen jar. The mouth was covered with 
the usua] earthenware disk. Further excavation yielded no note- 
worthy results. Potsherds were found everywhere. 


EDIFICE. No..-5. 

Southeast of the southern extremity of the great terrace, where 
it grades off almost imperceptibly into the natural level of the region, 
lies a large, high terrace of many turns and angles, shown in the plan, 
Pl. XXVI. Upon the southern margin of this is a single-storied struc- 
ture of five rooms, raised upon a small secondary elevation; it is 
reached bya series of interrupted stairways, of rather unusual charac- 
ter, as may be seen on the plan. This building, as exposed by our 
excavations, is shown in Pls. XVIII and XIX. A second structure, 
or rather wing, attached to the main structure at its eastern extremity, 
and like it facing toward the north, has four chambers. 


EDIFICE No. 6. 


Nearly the whole of the eastern line of the rectangular portion 
of the terrace mentioned above is occupied by the ruins of Edifice 
No. 6, which in plan is a simplified copy of the Palace. The solid 
mound, upon which once rested an oratorio or an altar, is flanked 
upon each side by a series of two chambers, and a broad stairway 
ascends from the level of the general terrace to the platform. 
In front of the stairway was the raised circular space holding the 
usual phallus or stella. Excavation developed nothing of interest. 


222 FIELD CoLuMBIAN MusEUuM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL. II. 


EDIFICE No.7. 


This edifice is on the main terrace, about go feet eastward of the 
Palace, and is intimately connected with that structure, as shown in 
the plan, Pl. XXVI. 

When first examined all that could be noted of this ruin was a 
platform having upon its eastern edge a high, featureless mound. 
Excavation gradually developed the outline of a walled structure, 
one-storied and single-chambered, raised on a terrace 30 feet high 
and facing an enclosed courtyard. It communicated by stone stair- 
ways of various dimensions with the terrace facing it. (See Pl. XX.) 

During the excavation of this ruin, fragments of incense-burners, 
potsherds and various objects of hard-burned clay were found. The 
material of the mound consists of a filling of large field stones, aver- 
aging a foot in diameter, surrounded by a mortar facing. The ter- 
race upon which the substructure rests seems to be entirely artificial. 
Often the ancient builders took advantage of a natural elevation to 
aid them in the construction of a mound. I have often found a good- 
sized hill scaled down, cut into and built up in such a manner that it 
had all the appearance of an entirely artificial mound, 


EDIFICES No. 8, No. 9 AND No. 10. 


Five hundred and twenty feet west of the principal structure. of 
‘ this group, is a group of three mounds that excavation shows to have 
been true edifices, but now reduced by time or other destructive 
agencies to formless masses of ruins. They do not appear in the 
general plan, but ground plans are given in Figs. 25, 26 and 27. 

The structures thus briefly referred to are such as were originally 
exposed to view, or have been brought to light by means of the pick 
and shovel. Between and surrounding these lie many terraces and 
mounds, some detached and some in groups. They are rarely sym- 
metrical. Often they seem to be an agglomeration of terraces of 
different levels, built and added to as additional room was called for. 
To describe these would be a useless labor. The accompanying plans 
are sufficient. 


EXCAVATIONS (EDIFICE No. 8).—Edifice No. 8 (Fig. 25) appeared at 
first glance to be simply an ordinary mound, so utterly was it ruined. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM, ANTHROPOLOGY. 


FiG. 25. PLAN OF EDIFICE No. 8. 


Fig, 26. PLAN OF EDIFICE No. 9. 


FiG. 27, PLAN OF EDIFICE No. 10. 


JuLy, 1898. Ruins oF XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 223 


The roof-stones found here and there told the story of its original 
character, and excavation was continued until the bed-rock itself 
stopped the work. At the distance of a foot beneath the surface of 
the floor we found traces of an older floor. Buried a foot deep in the 
material of the floor was a rude grave and a shallow earthen dish 
inverted over a heap of human bones. Near by were fragments of 
clay figurines and potsherds. Beneath these objects was a third 
floor, and a few inches deeper still another. This is the first time I 
have found so many floors. A foot deeper we struck a filling of great 
stones that continued down to the bed-rock and yielded nothing of 
note. 

Fifteen inches beneath the floor of Chamber No. 2 we found a 
curious wall-like ridge of mortar, and resting upon it an earthen 
vessel. The ridge of mortar was built upon a level floor, under which 
were found various portions of a human skeleton. Beneath these 
vestiges of the ancient people was a third floor, and further excava- 
tions revealed a second ridge of mortar in the northwest corner of 
the room; this was 3 feet long by 1 foot wide and 1% feet high. Be- 
neath this ridge were found human bones which fell into dust at the 
touch, and many potsherds. This mound rested upon a fourth floor, 
and 2 feet beneath this was the undisturbed hardpan. One foot be- 
neath the floor of Chamber No. 3 we came upon a second floor, and 
1 foot beneath the surface of this, resting upon a leveled surface, were 
two burial places, coffin-shaped, lke those found in Chamber No. 5, 
Edifice No. 3. Grave 1 was 6 feet long, 1 foot 7 inches wide at the 
head, tapering gradually to 1 foot 3 inches wide at the foot and 1 foot 
3 inches deep. The bones in this grave were so broken and mixed 
(evidently by small rodents) that no idea could be obtained of the 
original position of the body. At about one-third of the length of 
the grave from the wider end was found a shallow earthen ves- 
sel overturned, and beneath it were the crumbling remains of a 
skull. 

Grave No. 2 was of the same general shape and size as No. 1, 
but held only much-decayed human bones and potsherds. Chamber 
No. 4 yielded only potsherds of no special interest. 


Excavations (EpiFicE No. 9).—This edifice (Fig. 26) also appeared 
at first to be a large, shapeless mound, but excavation revealed a 
structure of two chambers, and in Chamber No. 1, at a depth of g 
inches beneath the floor, one small earthen jar and the fragments of 
several other vessels were found. Excavation in Chamber No. 2, at 
a depth of 2 feet 8 inches beneath the floor and 2 feet from the west 


224 FieLp CoLUuMBIAN MustuM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL. II. 


wall, brought to view a burial place 3 feet long by 1 foot 3 inches 
wide, and 1 foot 3 inches deep. The human bones encountered 
therein were very much decayed, and the fragments of a skull were 
covered by an inverted shallow vessel. Besides this were found 
some beads, among them one of jade, and various potsherds. In the 
material of the foundation, upon the east side of the room, we found 
a small earthen jar upright and intact which must have heen placed 
in position by careful hands many centuries ago. Scattered about 
were many potsherds and ashes, but no traces of human bones. 


EXCAVATIONS (EDIFICE No. 10).—Edifice No: 10 (Fig. 27) was a mere 
mound, concealing within its mass, however, a ruined three-chambered 
structure. Excavation in Chamber No. 1 yielded many potsherds, 
and in the southeast corner was a rudely formed cavity holding a 
heap of badly decayed bones and human teeth. Chamber No. 2 
contained an accumulation of potsherds, while Chamber No. 3 held 
potsherds and two cylindrical rubbing stones, the surfaces of the 
latter being highly polished by attrition. 


MOUNDS Nos. 1 AND 3. 

Mound No. 1 (see ground plan, Pl. XX VI) showed no evidence of 
having supported a superstructure. There were three graves in a very 
ruined state, which contained several earthen vessels, nearly or quite 
complete, as well as many potsherds. Excavation of Mound No. 3 re- 
vealed two graves even more completely ruined than those found in 
Mound No. 1. They held several vessels of the usual pattern—one 
being a shallow dish with base serrated on the edge—fragments of 
human bones much decayed, and some stone beads. 


MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS. 


Besides the excavations already described, investigations in ter- 
races and other places yielded fragments of a large number of vessels, 
some of which are of an interesting character. Several were perfect, 
or nearly so, among them being one of unusual type—a medium- 
sized jar, with cord holders or handles inside the mouth. There were 
found also obsidian knife blades, cylindrical rubbing stones, stone 
macerators for separating plant and bark fibre, flint axe-heads, worked 


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Juty, 1898. Ruins oF XKICHMOOK, YuCATAN—THOmpPSON. 225 


flints of various kinds, chalcedony chips, beads of jade, chalcedony 
and terra cotta, hammer-stones, with fragments of idols and stucco 
figures. Many of these objects are illustrated in the accompanying 
plates. 


CHULTUNES OR RESERVOIRS. 


Throughout this ruin group, as is the case with most ruins dis- 
tant from natural water supply (cenotes or water caves), we found 
many subterranean chamber-like reservoirs intended to receive and 
hold the rain water falling during the rainy season. Generally each 
principal structure has one or more of these reservoirs, as may be seen 
in the plan. As a rule they are in the terrace substructure of the 
building or cluster of buildings to which they belong, though some- 
times they are dug in the ground. They are of course filled with 
debris and choked by vegetable growth, and require to be cleaned out 
before examination can proceed. Some are merely the pits made in 
getting out the white earth used in building. The walls are in all 
cases finished with a thick coating of white stucco. The builders of 
these structures sometimes took advantage of the plastic nature of the 
stucco to model upon the surface various figures in high relief. 

Reservoir No. 16 is a low chamber with a curiously long slender 
orifice that barely permitted the passage of my body; it had painted 
upon its walls a phallic emblem and the figure of a turtle. A plan 
and profile of this cistern appears in Fig. 28, and similar examples are 
illustrated in Figs. 29 and 30. 

Three leagues northeast of Xkichmook lies the Indian ranche of 
Nucuchtuk, built on the site of asmall group of ruins. Within the 
group I encountered and excavated a most singularchultune. It was 
extremely shallow and, unlike the previously described examples, 
was quite close to the surface and very wide. Its walls have a most 
curious assortment of figures worked in stucco. Close by the orifice 
upon either side were two nondescript figures, and distributed around 
the walls were an ape, a wild turkey, a deer-like animal, a serpent 
and a frog. These are shown imperfectly in connection with the 
section of the reservoir in Fig. 31. I have personally explored the 
depths of more than a hundred chultunes, but this exceeds in interest 
any other | have found. 

Excavation in the other reservoirs yielded water jars, generally 
in fragments, beads, lance heads and rubbing stones. 

In the ruin group of Labna many of the chultunes were closed 


226 FieLp CoLumMBIAN MusEUM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL. II. 


by means of heavy stones cemented over the mouth, and many con- 
tained fragments of human bones, but in Xkichmook none were sealed 
and no human bones were found in them. 


INCISED FIGURES. 


Upon the northern wall of Chamber No. 7, which is on the west 
side of the stairway of the Palace, we found the rudely incised devices 
reproduced in Figs.,32 and 33. They consist of geometrical figures 
that might have been used in some prehistoric boys’ game, fragments 
of a head-dress with penaches and long flowing plumes, a rudimentary 
human figure and various hieroglyphics. The work does not seem to 
be of a serious or significant nature, but rather the random effort of 
some young idler, who used his flint or obsidian knife with the same 
disregard of parental warnings that characterizes the modern youth 
wielding his keen-edged jack-knife. 


MURAL PAINTINGS. 


Mural paintings once covered the inner wall surfaces of a large 
number of chambers in most of the ruin groups of Yucatan; in fact I 
have never found these ruins without some traces of pigment upon 
walls or ceiling. Sometimes the work is hardly more than outline 
drawing done in thick lines of intense blackness. In other places a 
dark brown pigment was used, and often lines of figures or glyphs in 
red, blue, green, brown and yellow embellished the walls. Unfortu- 
nately these paintings have for the most part disappeared, being 
represented to-day only by detached patches of color or bits of form, 
interesting and valuable as the only traces of the color-art still left 
us, but nearly valueless to the historian or the student of art. Chi- 
chen-Itza alone of all the ruin groups has furnished mural paintings 
so nearly intact that the subjects they present can be intelligently 
studied; these paintings have been faithfully copied and thus pre- 
served to science. Would that this had been the case with the hidden 
chambers at Tilam. These when opened were found to contain mural 
paintings like those at Chichen-Itza, but they were neglected and 
before coming to my notice were completely destroyed. 

At Xkichmook the flat under-surfaces of the ceiling stones of the 
vaulted chambers seem to have contained the most elaborate designs: 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY. 


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Fig. 32. INCISED FiGURES ON WALL OF CHAMBER No. 7, PALACE. 


Fig. 33. INCISED FIGURES ON WALL OF CHAMBER No. 7, PALACE. 


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Juty, 1898. Ruins oF XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 227 


and the work of painting must have been a very difficult art for the 
Mayan painter, as the task of copying was tedious and painful to the 
modern artist. In some cases the ceiling-surfaces were covered with 
' stucco and worked into panels adorned with scroll work in low relief. 
In these panels the artist then executed his designs in color. Many 
interesting paintings thus placed are hidden from view by opaque 
coatings of lime carbonate or gypsum deposited by percolating 
waters. 

Upon the ceiling stones of Chamber’ No. 11, to the east of the 
Palace stairway, portions of a painting were still in a measure pre- 
served, and these were carefully copied. (See Fig. 34.) A scaffolding of 
poles was built up to within a short distance from the figures and the 
copyist did his work in a prostrate position, resting upon his back. 
The colors used were brown and blue, but the blue had nearly dis- 
appeared. 

Upon the northern wall of Chamber No. 10, curious drawings or 
glyphs in strong black lines once existed. Figs. 35 and 36 show the 
portions still visible. The walls of the other chambers of the Palace 
were without traces of embellishment. 

‘Upon the middle ceiling stone of Chamber No. 4, in Edifice No. 4, 
we found a painted human figure of which only the flowing head- 
dress, a portion of the face, and certaim devices issuing from the 
mouth and probably indicating speech, now remain. 

The mysterious red hand was found printed upon the walls of 
the chambers in various places, and in one place, on the crumbling 
stucco surface of Chamber No. 1 of the Palace, a human hand in blue 
pigment was found. [ had become so accustomed to this seal of 
bloody possession in the color of-blood, that this specimen was a 
great surprise to me. The impression was so fresh and perfect in 
places that even the minute lines of the skin were visible. 


POTTERY. 


Numerous earthen vessels were recovered, some from graves but 
largely from sites of use. Vast quantities of sherds were encountered, 
and several barrels of them, selected at various points, were collected. 
A study of these has not yet been made. Examples of the vases are 
shown in Pls. XXI and XXII. 


228 FIELD CoLumMBIAN MustEuM—ANTHROPOLOGY, VoL. II. 


OBSIDIAN. 


It is evident, judging from the specimens found, that obsidian 
was a rare material in Yucatan. During my ten years’ investigations 
among the ruins of Yucatan and Campeche, I have not found as many 
specimens of worked obsidian as I picked up in half an hour between 
the Temples of the Sun and of the Moon at San Juan Teotihuacan, 
Valley of Mexico. The reason for this is plain. At San Juan we 
were in the vicinity of rich deposits of obsidian. From the banks of 
the river the natives could almost point out the cliffs in which it is 
found, while in the river bed we observed water-worn pebbles and 
masses of obsidian, resembling lumps of coal. 

At Xkichmook and elsewhere in Yucatan I have never found a 
single obsidian implement, except the slender flakes that probably 
served as knife blades; these are rather fragile for the ordinary uses 
of a knife, but some are so sharp that when dexterously used they will 
cut or even shave a beard. 


STONE IMPLEMENTS. 


In no other group of ruins have I found such plentiful traces of 
the ancient fabrication of flint implements as at Xkichmook. There 
does not appear to have been any large bodies of material from which 
these weapons were made, but loose, rounded, cobble-like masses of 
chalcedony, some a clear snow-white, others of pearly and pinkish tints, 
were utilized. I found sometimes quite a quantity of these nodules 
collected together, and close by were small heaps of chips and rejects, 
the latter representing all stages of implement development, These 
chalcedony lance and arrow heads are often skillfully chipped and 
very handsome. Examples of the flaked implements appear in Pls. 
XXIII and XXIV. 

With the exception of a celt fragment made of nephrite, and the 
cylindrical mealing-stones illustrated in Pl. XXV, I did not find a 
single polished stone implement at Xkichmook. 


Jury, 1898. Ruins or XKICHMOOK, YuCATAN—THOMPSON, 229 


A PRIMITIVE NATIVE. 


Shortly after we commenced our investigations in this ruin group, 
we discovered evidences of recent human occupation in the jungle 
close by; so modern indeed that the embers of a fire were still fresh; 
and when our hunters returned with their game one day they brought 
with them a swd/evado Maya Indian, one of those beings so dreaded in 
civilized Yucatan that the mothers themselves shudder as they hush 
their children’s cries by the aid of the dread name. 

He was a strongly-built, good-looking fellow, apparently about 
fifty years of age. At first he was silent and sullen, but as soon as he 
saw that we meant him no harm and did not even intend to treat him 
as a captive, he unbent and became quite communicative. He said 
he had been living in the jungles for years. By the aid of his m/pah 
(cornfield) he obtained food, and by barter with other Indians secured 
powder and ball for his flint-lock. He remained near us during our 
entire stay, and brought us game andcorn. The day we left I tried to 
induce him to come with us, and promised him safety if he desired 
reconciliation with the government of Yucatan, but in vain; he had 
raised his arm against the whites and trusted no promise on their 
part. And so we left him in his forest home. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XII. 


VIEW OF THE PALACE FROM THE SOUTHEAST. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XIII. 


VIEW OF THE PALACE FROM THE NORTHEAST. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XIV. 


VIEW OF THE PALACE FROM THE NORTHWEST. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL, XV, 


Re 


EDIFICE No. 2, SHOWING MASONRY. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XVI. 


Bin eR-~ ENG - 


EpiFice No. 3, aS EXPOSED BY EXCAVATION, SHOWING STAIRWAY AND HALLS. 


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FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XVII. 


EDIFICE No. 4, as It APPEARED AFTER REMOVAL OF THE FOREST GROWTH. 


Repay 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XVIII. 


BivveR-Enoe 


PorTION OF EDIFICE NO, 5, aS EXPOSED BY EXCAVATIONS. 


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PORTION OF EDIFICE No. 5, AS EXPOSED BY EXCAVATIONS. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XX. 


EpiFice No. 7, AFTER EXCAVATION, SHOWING STAIRWAY AND REMNANT OF FACADE. 


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FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM, ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XxXI. 


POTTERY. ONE-THIRD ACTUAL SIZE. 


a. Reed vase from a Mound. c. Vase from Mound. 
6. Bow! from Mound No.1. da. Vase from Mound. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. Xxil. 


a2 


POTTERY. 


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alin 
mt Fragments of pottery from Mound. 


¢, Small vase from Mound No. 9, Chamber 1. 
d. Small black bottle from Mound No. 8. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM, 


ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XxtIll. 


CHIPPED FLINT IMPLEMENTS FROM MOUND. 


FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XXIV. 


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CHIPPED FLINT IMPLEMENTS FROM MOUND. 


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FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM, ANTHROPOLOGY, PL. XxXV. 


STONE IMPLEMENTS. ACTUAL SIZE. 
a. Polishing stone from Mound No. 10, Chamber 4s c. Stone used for grinding. 


6. Polishing stone from Mound. @, Stone used for grinding. 


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